U.S. patent number 9,808,743 [Application Number 14/181,225] was granted by the patent office on 2017-11-07 for roll type filter cleaning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sang-hyun Baek, Youn-suk Choi, Young-ki Hahn, Hyo-young Jeong, Soo-suk Lee, Tae-han Lee.
United States Patent |
9,808,743 |
Baek , et al. |
November 7, 2017 |
Roll type filter cleaning apparatus
Abstract
Provided is a filter cleaning apparatus for cleaning a roll-type
filter including a cleaning tank with a cavity for accommodating a
cleaning solution, and a frame that is separable from the cleaning
tank and is provided with a fixed portion for fixing a roll-type
filter and a supporting portion for supporting weight of the
roll-type filter, wherein the supporting portion includes a
plurality of through holes through which the cleaning solution
passes, and a plurality of supporting members for partially
supporting a lower portion of the roll-type filter.
Inventors: |
Baek; Sang-hyun (Hwaseong-si,
KR), Lee; Tae-han (Seoul, KR), Jeong;
Hyo-young (Seoul, KR), Hahn; Young-ki (Seoul,
KR), Lee; Soo-suk (Suwon-si, KR), Choi;
Youn-suk (Yongin-si, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do |
N/A |
KR |
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Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
(Suwon-si, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
52426541 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/181,225 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150034134 A1 |
Feb 5, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
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Jul 30, 2013 [KR] |
|
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10-2013-0090422 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D
29/073 (20130101); A61M 1/3633 (20130101); A61M
2205/7554 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
29/07 (20060101); A61M 1/36 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10-0638980 |
|
Oct 2006 |
|
KR |
|
10-1113272 |
|
Apr 2011 |
|
KR |
|
Primary Examiner: Barr; Michael
Assistant Examiner: Riggleman; Jason
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filter cleaning apparatus for cleaning a roll-type filter, the
apparatus comprising: (i) a cleaning tank provided with a cavity
for accommodating a cleaning solution; and (ii) a frame that is
separable from the cleaning tank and comprises a supporting portion
for supporting weight of the roll-type filter and a fixed portion
protruding from the supporting portion for fixing the roll-type
filter, wherein the supporting portion comprises a circular base
having a plurality of through holes through which the cleaning
solution passes, and a plurality of supporting members for
partially supporting a lower portion of the roll-type filter, the
supporting members are separated from each other in a radial
direction relative to the center of the circular base and protrude
from the top surface of the circular base toward the roll-type
filter, and each of the supporting members extends in a
circumferential direction of the roll-type filter, and the
supporting members comprise at least one first supporting member
extending along the circular base in a circumferential direction of
the circular base and having a first radius from the center of the
circular base, and at least one second supporting member extending
along the circular base in a circumferential direction of the
circular base and having a second radius from the center of the
circular base, the second radius being larger than the first
radius, wherein at least one of the through holes is disposed
between the at least one first supporting member and the at least
one second supporting member.
2. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed
portion of the frame is configured for insertion into a hollow
shaft of a roll-type filter so as to fix the roll-type filter.
3. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame
further comprises a handle portion which protrudes outside of the
cleaning tank.
4. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distance
between the supporting members is approximately 5 mm to
approximately 50 mm.
5. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a protruding
height of the supporting members is approximately 5 mm to
approximately 10 mm.
6. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width of the
supporting members is approximately 5 mm to approximately 10
mm.
7. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting
members are disposed along the circumferential direction of the
circular base so as to be separated from each other.
8. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a
portion of the frame is disposed within the cleaning tank, and at
least one of the cleaning tank and the frame comprises a spacer so
that a bottom surface of the cleaning tank and a lower surface of
the supporting portion are separated from each other.
9. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning
tank further comprises an outlet for discharging the cleaning
solution.
10. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed
portion is detachably connected to the supporting portion.
11. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed
portion comprises an upper region and a lower region, wherein the
upper region is further from the cleaning tank than the lower
region, and the diameter of the upper region is smaller than the
diameter of the lower region.
12. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the handle
portion is detachably connected to the fixed portion.
13. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a
cover which is disposed above the cavity.
14. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 13, further comprising
an elastic member having a ring shape which is disposed between the
cover and the cleaning tank.
15. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cover is
provided with a hole for injecting the cleaning solution in at
least a portion of an edge of the cover.
16. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cover is
provided with an opening and closing portion capable of obstructing
the hole.
17. The filter cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cover
has an inclined portion which is sloped toward the hole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2013-0090422, filed on Jul. 30, 2013, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
The present disclosure relates to filter cleaning apparatuses for
cleaning a roll-type filter, and more particularly, to filter
cleaning apparatuses that remove foreign substances or ionic
substances remaining in a roll-type filter while minimizing damage
to the roll-type filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Filters are used to filter unwanted foreign substances or extract
desired materials from a starting material.
In such a process of manufacturing a filter, unintended foreign
substances or ionic substances may become trapped in the filter.
According to the purpose of use, such foreign substances or ionic
substances may need to be removed in some cases. For example, in a
case of a blood separating filter for separating blood plasma from
whole blood, certain ionic substances, when trapped in the filter,
can lower the accuracy of the filter, and thus a separate cleaning
process is required.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Provided are filter cleaning apparatuses which have a simple
structure, may clean a roll-type filter in a short period of time,
and may minimize damage thereto.
Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a filter
cleaning apparatus for cleaning a roll-type filter includes (i) a
cleaning tank provided with a cavity for accommodating a cleaning
solution, (ii) a frame that is separable from the cleaning tank and
is provided with a fixed portion for fixing the roll-type filter
and a supporting portion for supporting weight of the roll-type
filter, wherein the supporting portion includes a plurality of
through holes through which the cleaning solution passes, and a
plurality of supporting members for partially supporting a lower
portion of the roll-type filter.
The roll-type filter may be wound around a hollow shaft, and the
fixed portion may be inserted into the hollow shaft so as to fix
the roll-type filter.
The frame may further include a handle portion which protrudes
toward the outside of the cleaning tank.
The supporting members may be disposed along a radial direction of
the roll type filter so as to be separated from each other.
A distance between the supporting members may be approximately 5 mm
to approximately 50 mm.
The supporting members may protrude toward the roll-type
filter.
A protruding height of a supporting member may be approximately 5
mm to approximately 10 mm.
A width of a supporting member may be approximately 5 mm to
approximately 10 mm.
Each of the supporting members may extend along in a
circumferential direction relative to the roll-type filter.
The supporting members may be disposed along the circumferential
direction of the roll-type filter so as to be separated from each
other.
At least one of the cleaning tank and the frame may include a
spacer so that a bottom surface of the cleaning tank and a lower
surface of the supporting portion are separated from each
other.
The cleaning tank may further include an outlet for discharging the
cleaning solution.
The fixed portion may be detachably connected to the supporting
portion.
The fixed portion may include a region comprising an upper diameter
and lower diameter, wherein the upper diameter is smaller than the
lower diameter.
The handle portion may be detachably connected to the fixed
portion.
The filter cleaning apparatus may further include a cover which is
disposed above the cavity.
The filter cleaning apparatus may further include an elastic member
having a ring shape which is disposed between the cover and the
cleaning tank.
The cover may be provided with a hole along at least a portion of
an edge of the cover, suitable for injecting the cleaning solution.
The cover may be provided with an opening and closing portion
capable of obstructing the hole. The cover may have an inclined
portion which is sloped toward the hole.
The filter may be a filter formed of glass fiber.
In the disclosed filter cleaning apparatus, the frame is disposed
within the cleaning tank accommodating the cleaning solution so as
to be separable from the cleaning tank, and the filter having a
roll shape is disposed onto the frame to be fixed to and supported
by the frame. Thus, damage to the filter may be minimized, and
cleaning of large quantities of the filter may be performed within
a short period of time.
In addition, the through holes and the supporting members are
formed in the supporting portion for supporting the filter on the
frame, and thus a cleaning solution may be uniformly supplied to
the filter, thereby uniformly cleaning the filter as a whole.
Furthermore, the handle portion may be provided as part of the
frame, allowing easy loading of the filter onto the frame. .
Therefore, a cleaning solution may be smoothly supplied into the
internal pores of the filter at the time of cleaning, and the
filter may be easily moved to a separate drying apparatus from the
cleaning tank after the cleaning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other aspects will become more readily apparent and
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an
embodiment of the present disclosure where a roll-type filter is
disposed in a filter cleaning apparatus;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the filter cleaning
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the filter cleaning
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a frame of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of a filter that is
disposed in the filter cleaning apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic diagrams illustrating a use state of
the frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state where a
handle portion is detached from the frame of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a connecting
portion between the handle portion and a fixed portion in the frame
of FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a filter
cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic assembled perspective view of a filter
cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. In this
regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should
not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth
herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by
referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present
description. Expressions such as "at least one of," when preceding
a list of elements, modify the whole list of elements and do not
modify the individual elements of the list.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an
embodiment of the present disclosure where a roll-type filter is
disposed in a filter cleaning apparatus 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 are an
exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view of the
filter cleaning apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 1, the filter cleaning apparatus 1 according to
the current embodiment accommodates a cleaning solution C for
cleaning a roll-type filter 10. A roll-type filter 10 is disposed
in the filter cleaning apparatus 1 accommodating the cleaning
solution C, and thus the cleaning solution C uniformly comes into
contact with top, bottom, and side portions of the roll-type filter
10.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the roll-type filter 10 is disposed in
the filter cleaning apparatus 1, and thus the filter 10, having a
considerable length, for example, a length of approximately 10 m to
approximately 100 m, may be cleaned collectively. When a filter,
instead of the roll-type filter 10, is individually cleaned, as the
length of the filter increases, a cleaning time may be increased or
the size of a cleaning apparatus may be increased. However, in the
current embodiment, the roll-type filter 10 is cleaned as it is,
and thus an increase in cleaning time and an increase in size of
the cleaning apparatus at the time of cleaning may be minimized in
spite of an increase in length of the roll-type filter 10.
As an example of the roll-type filter 10, the roll-type filter 10
may be wound around a hollow shaft 15. When the roll-type filter 10
is unwound, the whole length of the filter having a sheet shape may
be approximately 10 m to approximately 100 m. However, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto, and the whole length thereof may
vary according to the diameter of the hollow shaft 15 and the
number of windings of the roll-type filter 10 around the hollow
shaft 15. Meanwhile, a width t1 of the roll-type filter 10 is
approximately 10 mm to approximately 30 mm, and a diameter D1 of
the roll-type filter 10 which is wound around the hollow shaft 15
may be approximately 100 mm to approximately 300 mm. In FIG. 2, an
example of the roll-type filter 10 wound around the hollow shaft 15
is described. However, the present disclosure is not limited
thereto, and a configuration may be employed in which only the
roll-type filter 10 is wound without the hollow shaft 15.
The roll-type filter 10 may be a microporous hollow membrane
roll-type filter 10 that is formed of glass fiber. Pores (not
shown) within the roll-type filter 10 may have a diameter of
approximately several pm to several mm, for example, approximately
1 .mu.m to approximately 1 mm. The roll-type filter 10 may be used
as a blood separating filter.
When the roll-type filter 10 is a membrane roll-type filter, the
roll-type filter 10 is susceptible to be damage by external force.
Thus, the roll-type filter 10 requires care so as not to be
damaged. In the current embodiment, the roll-type filter 10 is
cleaned by being immersed in the cleaning solution C, and thus the
probability of the roll-type filter 10 being damaged may be
remarkably decreased, as compared with a method of using a
high-pressure fluid.
An objective of the current embodiment is to provide the filter
cleaning apparatus 1 with a relatively simple structure and high
detergency in order to clean the roll-type filter 10.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the filter cleaning apparatus 1
according to the current embodiment includes a cleaning tank 110
accommodating the cleaning solution C, and a frame 130 that is
separable from the cleaning tank 110 and fixedly supports the
roll-type filter 10. For convenience of description, the cleaning
solution C is not illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
The cleaning tank 110 is provided with a cavity 111 for
accommodating the cleaning solution C therein. The size (diameter)
of the cavity 111 may vary depending on a cleaning method and the
type of roll-type filter 10. For example, a diameter D2 of the
cavity 111 may be greater by approximately at least 5 cm than the
diameter D1 of the roll-type filter 10 so that the cleaning
solution C is not directly poured onto the roll-type filter 10 when
the roll-type filter 10 is disposed in the cleaning tank 110. The
height of the cavity 111 may vary depending on the height of the
roll-type filter 10 and the cleaning method.
The cleaning tank 110 is provided with an outlet 113 for
discharging the cleaning solution C. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
3, the outlet 113 may be formed in a side surface 1108 of the
cleaning tank 110. However, the present disclosure is not limited
thereto, and the outlet 113 may be formed in a bottom surface 110A
of the cleaning tank 110. Although not shown in the drawing, the
bottom surface 110A of the cleaning tank 110 may include an
inclined portion of which at least a part is sloped toward the
outlet 113 so as to smoothly discharge the cleaning solution C.
A holder portion 115 may be formed outside the cleaning tank 110 so
as to facilitate the transportation of the cleaning tank 110. The
holder portion 115 is formed along a circumferential direction of
the cleaning tank so as to protrude toward the outside as
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, but the present disclosure is not
limited thereto.
At least a portion of the frame 130 is disposed within the cavity
111. The frame 130 is provided with a fixed portion 140 for fixing
the roll-type filter 10, a supporting portion 150 for supporting
the weight of the roll-type filter 10, and a handle portion 160
that protrudes toward the outside of the cleaning tank 110.
The roll-type filter 10 is wound around the hollow shaft 15, and
may be fixed by inserting the fixed portion 140 into the hollow
shaft 15. Thus, the roll-type filter 10 may be prevented from
shifting, for example, in a horizontal direction, during a cleaning
process or a transfer process.
The fixed portion 140 may include a region comprising an upper
diameter and lower diameter, wherein the upper diameter is smaller
than the lower diameter, so as to be easily fixed to the roll-type
filter 10. For example, the fixed portion 140 may have a conical
shape as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame 130 of FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 4, the supporting portion 150 includes a base 151
for supporting the fixed portion 140, and the base 151 is provided
with a plurality of through holes 152 and a plurality of supporting
members 153. The base 151 may have a circular plate shape as a
whole. However, the shape of the base 151 is merely an example, and
may vary depending on the shape of the cavity 111 of the cleaning
tank 110.
The plurality of through holes 152 provide a path through which the
cleaning solution C accommodated in the cleaning tank 110 moves
between an upper portion and a lower portion of the supporting
portion 150. In particular, when the frame 130 moves within the
cleaning tank 110 due to external force applied to the frame 130,
the cleaning solution C can move through the through holes. Here,
the external force may be provided by an operator. However, the
present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the external force
may be provided by a separate apparatus.
The plurality of supporting members 153 partially support a lower
portion of the roll-type filter 10. The cleaning solution C is
better able to moveto the lower portion of the roll-type filter 10,
because the lower portion of the roll-type filter 10 is only
partially supported by the plurality of supporting members 153.
When the supporting members 153 entirely support the whole lower
portion of the roll-type filter 10, the cleaning solution C is not
likely to be supplied to the lower portion of the roll-type filter
10 due to the supporting members 153 coming into contact with the
whole lower portion of the roll-type filter 10.
As an example in which the supporting members 153 partially support
the lower portion of the roll-type filter 10, the supporting
members 153 are disposed so as to be radially separated from each
other relative to the roll-type filter 10 as illustrated in FIG. 4,
and each of the supporting members 153 may extend along a
circumferential direction.
The weight of the roll-type filter 10 may be distributed by
disposing the supporting members 153 so as to be radially separated
from each other relative to the roll-type filter 10. Thus, the
roll-type filter 10 may be prevented from being damaged due to the
weight thereof. However, when the roll-type filter 10 is formed of
a material vulnerable to weight despite the distribution of the
weight, a region of the roll-type filter 10 which comes into
contact with the supporting members 153 may become damaged. In the
current embodiment, the supporting members 153 are disposed so as
to be tradially separated from each other relative to the roll-type
filter 10, and each of the supporting members 153 is formed to
extend along in a circumferential direction. The supporting members
153 are formed in such a manner, so that even though the roll-type
filter 10 is damaged in contact regions with the supporting members
153, the damage of the roll-type filter 10 is limited to only some
regions.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the roll-type filter
10 that is disposed in the filter cleaning apparatus 1. Referring
to FIG. 5, even though a bottom 11 of the roll-type filter 10 is
damaged due to the arrangement and shape of the supporting members
153 (see FIG. 4), the damage is limited to only contact regions 11A
that are formed along the circumferential direction. Accordingly,
in the current embodiment, even though the roll-type filter 10 is
damaged, the roll-type filter 10 may be unwound to remove only the
damaged contact regions 11A, and then a remaining region 11B may be
used as it is.
Referring back to FIG. 4, the supporting members 153 may be
radially separated from each other at a distance g1 of
approximately 5 mm to approximately 50 mm. When the distance g1 is
less than 5 mm, portions of the supporting members 153 which may
come into contact with the cleaning solution C may be relatively
reduced, and thus the cleaning solution C may not be as likely to
be smoothly supplied to the lower portion of the roll-type filter
10. Meanwhile, when the distance g1 exceeds 50 mm, a load may be
concentrated on the contact regions 11A that come into contact with
the supporting members 153, and the remaining region 11B, which
does not contact with the supporting members 153, may hang due to
the load. The hang of the remaining region 11B due to the load is
associated with frictional force between the roll-type filters 10,
and the degree of hang of the remaining region 11 B may vary
depending on a material of the roll-type filter 10.
The supporting members 153 may be disposed so as to be separated
from each other along the circumferential direction of the
roll-type filter 10. Thus, the cleaning solution C may smoothly
flow not only through the through holes 152 but also through a
region between the supporting members 153 that are separated from
each other along the circumferential direction.
The supporting members 153 may be formed to protrude toward the
roll-type filter 10. Thus, the cleaning solution C may be more
smoothly supplied to or discharged from the lower portion of the
roll-type filter 10. By being smoothly discharged from the lower
portion of the roll-type filter 10, the cleaning solution C may be
prevented from being filled in the roll-type filter 10 due to
surface tension. A height h1 and a width w1 of the protruding
supporting member 153 may be set to a predetermined size. For
example, the height h1 of the protruding supporting member 153 may
be approximately 5 mm to approximately 10 mm, and the width w1 of
the supporting member 153 may be approximately 5 mm to
approximately 10 mm. Although FIG. 5 illustrates the distance g1
between the supporting members 153 and the width w1 of the
supporting member 153 being the same as each other, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto. The distance g1 and the width w1
may vary when necessary.
The supporting portion 150 may further include at least one spacer
154. The spacer 154 separates the bottom surface 110A (see FIG. 2)
of the cleaning tank 110 and a bottom 151A of the supporting
portion 150 from each other. A space is made between the bottom
surface 110A of the cleaning tank 110 and the bottom 151A of the
supporting portion 150 through the use of spacers 154, and thus the
cleaning solution C may easily move in the lower portion of the
supporting portion 150. The cleaning solution C moving in the lower
portion of the supporting portion 150 may move to an upper portion
of the supporting portion 150 through the through holes 152 and
then reach the roll-type filter 10. On the contrary, the cleaning
solution C moving in the upper portion of the supporting portion
150 may move to the lower portion of the supporting portion 150
through the through holes 152. In addition, the spacer 154 may
prevent the cleaning solution C from being filled in the lower
portion of the supporting portion 150 when discharging the cleaning
solution C through the outlet 113 of the cleaning tank 110. In
particular, when the outlet 113 is formed in the side surface 110B,
the spacer 154 may be designed in such a manner that the roll-type
filter 10 is disposed higher than the center of the outlet 113 as
illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, after the cleaning solution C is
drained, the cleaning solution C of the cleaning tank 110 which has
not been drained may be prevented from coming into contact with the
roll-type filter 10. Although an example in which the spacers 154
are formed in the supporting portion 150 has been mainly described
so far, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The spacers
154 may also be formed in the cleaning tank 110 as long as it
separates the supporting portion 150 and the cleaning tank 110 from
each other. For example, although not shown in the drawing, the
spacer 154 may be formed in the bottom surface 110A or the side
surface 110B of the cleaning tank 110.
The handle portion 160 protrudes upward from the cavity 111. An
operator may easily grip the frame 130 by the protruding handle
portion 160 in a state where the roll-type filter 10 is immersed in
the cleaning solution C. FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic diagrams
illustrating a use state of the frame 130 according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of
description, the spacer 154 and the cleaning tank 110 are not
illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C. The roll-type filter 10 supported by
the frame 130 may be moved relatively to the cleaning solution C by
rotating the frame 130 as illustrated in FIG. 6A, tilting the frame
130 as illustrated in FIG. 6B, or moving the frame 130 in a
vertical direction as illustrated in FIG. 6C in a state where the
frame 130 is gripped by the handle portion 160. Thus, the cleaning
efficiency of the roll-type filter 10 may be improved.
In addition, the roll-type filter 10 may be easily transferred to
the outside of the cleaning tank 110 by the handle portion 160.
Even in a state where the cleaning solution C is discharged to the
outside of the cleaning tank 110, the cleaning solution C may
remain in the pores of the roll-type filter 10 before drying the
roll-type filter 10. The weight of the roll-type filter 10 may be
increased more than before the cleaning of the roll-type filter 10
due to the cleaning solution C remaining within the pores. Since
such a roll-type filter 10 may be vulnerable to damage, it may be
difficult to transfer the roll-type filter 10. However, in the
current embodiment, the frame 130 itself is moved by the handle
portion 160, and thus the roll-type filter 10 may be transferred
without being damaged and without applying external force directly
to the roll-type filter 10. The roll-type filter 10 may be
naturally dried within the filter cleaning apparatus 1, but it may
be transferred to a separate drying apparatus (not shown) so as to
be forcibly dried.
The handle portion 160 may be detachably connected to the fixed
portion 140.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state where
the handle portion 160 is detached from the frame 130 of FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 7, the handle portion 160 may be attached to the
fixed portion 140 or detached from the fixed portion 140 as
required. For example, when the roll-type filter 10 is moved to the
separate drying apparatus by the handle portion 160, the handle
portion 160 may be detached from the fixed portion 140 so that the
handle portion 160 is not disturbed in the process of disposing the
roll-type filter 10 within the drying apparatus.
The detachable connection between the handle portion 160 and the
fixed portion 140 may be arranged in any suitable
configuration.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a connecting
portion between the handle portion 160 and the fixed portion 140 in
the frame 130 of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 8, as an example of the
detachable connection between the handle portion 160 and the fixed
portion 140, the handle portion 160 may include a locking member
161, and the fixed portion 140 may include an insertion hole 141
into which the locking member 161 may be inserted.
The fixed portion 140 may be detachably connected to the supporting
portion 150. The fixed portion 140 may be attached to the
supporting portion 150 and detached from the supporting portion 150
as required. Thus, various types of supporting portions 150 and
fixed portions 140 may be connected to each other according to the
diameter D1 of the roll-type filter 10 or the diameter of the
hollow shaft 15. That is, compatibility may be improved. The
detachable connection between the fixed portion 140 and the
supporting portion 150 may be configured in any suitable manner.
For example, the fixed portion 140 may be detachably connected to
the supporting portion 150 in a manner similar to the structure
illustrated in FIG. 8.
Hereinafter, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 to describe a
process of cleaning the roll-type filter 10 by using the filter
cleaning apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned configuration.
A first cleaning solution is injected into the filter cleaning
apparatus 1 in which the frame 130--including the supporting
portion 150, the fixed portion 140, and the handle portion 160--is
disposed in the cavity 111 of the cleaning tank 110. At this time,
the first cleaning solution may vary depending on a material of the
roll-type filter 10 to be cleaned. For example, when the roll-type
filter 10 is formed of glass fiber, hydrochloric acid (HCl) may be
used.
The roll-type filter 10 is disposed in the filter cleaning
apparatus 1 accommodating the first cleaning solution so as to be
immersed in the first cleaning solution. At that time, in a state
where the handle portion 160 exposed to the outside of the cleaning
tank 110 is gripped, external force is applied to the filter
cleaning apparatus 1 so as to move the frame 130 in a vertical
direction, to rotate or tilt the frame 130. Thus, the roll-type
filter 10 is moved relatively to the first cleaning solution,
thereby improving the cleaning efficiency of the roll-type filter
10 through the first cleaning solution.
Next, the first cleaning solution is discharged to the outside of
the cleaning tank 110 through the outlet 113, and then a second
cleaning solution is injected into the cleaning tank 110. Since the
diameter D2 of the cavity 111 is larger by approximately at least 5
cm than the diameter D1 of the roll-type filter 10, the second
cleaning solution may be prevented from being directly poured in
the roll-type filter 10 at the time of injection of the second
cleaning solution. The injected second cleaning solution is
supplied to the roll-type filter 10, and thus the first cleaning
solution may be prevented from remaining in the pores of the
roll-type filter 10. At this time, external force is applied to the
handle portion 160, which is exposed to the outside of the cleaning
tank 110, so as to vertically move, rotate, or tilt the frame 130.
Thus, the roll-type filter 10 is moved relatively to the second
cleaning solution, and thus the first cleaning solution remaining
in the pores of the roll-type filter 10 may be effectively removed.
The second cleaning solution may be a material having a higher
volatility than the first cleaning solution. The second cleaning
solution may be an organic material such as acetone.
The second cleaning solution is discharged to the outside of the
cleaning tank 110 through the outlet 113, and then the roll-type
filter 10 may be dried. The second cleaning solution may partially
remain in the pores of the roll-type filter 10. However, when the
second cleaning solution is a material with a volatility higher
than that of the first cleaning solution, the second cleaning
solution may be easily removed through drying. The roll-type filter
10 may be naturally or forcibly dried. When the roll-type filter 10
is forcibly dried, the roll-type filter 10 may be easily moved to
an external drying apparatus (not shown) by using the handle
portion 160 of the frame 130. For convenience of description, an
example in which two types of cleaning solutions are used has been
mainly described, but one cleaning solution or three or more types
of cleaning solutions may be used as required.
The roll-type filter 10, having a good quality, from which foreign
substances or electrolytes are removed, may be attained through the
above-mentioned cleaning process including a drying process.
EXAMPLE 1
An experiment of actually cleaning the roll-type filter 10 was
performed by using the filter cleaning apparatus 1 according to
FIG. 2.
<Specifications of the Used Filter>
The roll-type filter 10 which is formed of glass fiber and has a
length of 50 m when unwound was used.
<Experimental Conditions>
First cleaning solution and cleaning time: hydrochloric acid (HCl)
solution of 0.5 mM/30 seconds.
Second cleaning solution and cleaning time: distilled water/5
minutes.
Third cleaning solution and cleaning time: acetone solution/2
hours.
Fourth cleaning solution and cleaning time: acetone solution/1
hour.
Drying: after drying for a predetermined period of time by using a
fume hood, drying in an oven at a temperature of 60.degree. C.
<Results of Experiment>
In order to ascertain whether the roll-type filter 10 is cleaned,
human serum was passed through the roll-type filter 10 either
before the roll-type filter 10 was cleaned ("Filter Before
Cleaning") or after the roll-type filter 10 was cleaned ("Filter
After Cleaning").The concentration of electrolytes was then
measured. Roche Modular Evo was used for the measurement.
TABLE-US-00001 Ca.sup.2+ Na.sup.+ [mM] K.sup.+ [mM] Cl.sup.- [mM]
[mM] Human Serum 148 4.2 97 10.5 Filter Before Cleaning 151 4.2 102
11.4 Filter 1 m 148 4.2 97 10.6 After 10 m 148 4.2 97 10.6 Cleaning
19 m 148 4.2 97 10.7 28 m 148 4.2 97 10.7 37 m 149 4.2 98 10.8 46 m
149 4.2 98 10.8
The human serum used in the experiment contained sodium ion
(Na.sup.+) of 148 mM, potassium ion (K.sup.+) of 4.2 mM, chlorine
ion (Cl.sup.-) of 97 mM, and calcium ion (Ca.sup.2+) of 10.5 mM at
the beginning. After such human serum was passed through the
roll-type filter 10 which had not been cleaned, the amounts of the
sodium ion (Na.sup.+), the potassium ion (K.sup.+), the chlorine
ion (Cl.sup.-), and the calcium ion (Ca.sup.2+) were 151 mM, 4.2
mM, 102 mM, and 11.4 mM, respectively. That is, the roll-type
filter 10 which had not been cleaned itself contained
concentrations of sodium ion (Na.sup.+) of approximately 3 mM,
chlorine ion (Cl.sup.-) of approximately 5 mM, and calcium ion
(Ca.sup.2+) of approximately 0.9 mM.
After the cleaning was performed according to the experimental
conditions whereby the roll-type filter 10 is disposed in the
filter cleaning apparatus 1 of FIG. 2 and cleaned, the increase in
sodium ion (.sup.Na.sup.+), the chlorine ion (.sup.Cl.sup.-), and
the calcium ion (.sup.Ca2+) concentrations was remarkably reduced
in amount or was completely eliminated , as compared with serum
passed through the roll-type filter 10 which had not been
cleaned.
In addition, as a result of the measurement of the roll-type filter
10 after the cleaning at a total of six points thereof in units of
9 m, the sodium ion (Na.sup.+), the chlorine ion (Cl.sup.-), and
the calcium ion (Ca.sup.2+) which were contained in the roll-type
filter 10 before the cleaning were remarkably reduced in the amount
or were completely removed at all the six points. Thereafter, the
whole length of the roll-type filter 10 was uniformly cleaned by
the filter cleaning apparatus 1 according to the current
embodiment. At this time, the roll-type filter 10 was not
damaged.
FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a filter
cleaning apparatus 2 according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure. Referring to FIG. 9, the filter cleaning apparatus 2
may include a cleaning tank 110, a frame 130, and a cover 170.
Here, the same components as the above-mentioned embodiments are
denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof
will not be repeated.
The filter cleaning apparatus 2 according to the current embodiment
may further include a cover 170 that is disposed above a cavity 111
of the cleaning tank 110, thereby preventing a cleaning solution
from vaporizing to the outside of the cleaning tank 110. In
particular, this may be more effective in a case where the cleaning
solution is a material having high volatility, for example, acetone
or ethanol.
An elastic member 121 having a ring shape may be disposed between
the cover 170 and the cleaning tank 110. A groove 116 for
accommodating the elastic member 121 may be formed in at least one
of the cover 170 and the cleaning tank 110. In the filter cleaning
apparatus 2 having the elastic member 121 disposed between the
cover 170 and the cleaning tank 110, the inside of the cavity 111
may become a vacuum dried environment when a vacuum pump (not
shown) is later connected to the outlet 113.
When the cover 170 is used, a handle portion 160 may be detached
from a fixed portion 140. When the cover 170 is opened or is not
used, the handle portion 160 may be attached to the fixed portion
140 and used.
FIG. 10 is a schematic assembled perspective view of a filter
cleaning apparatus 3 according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure. Referring to FIG. 10, the filter cleaning apparatus 3
may include a cleaning tank 110, a frame 130, and a cover 270.
Here, the same components as the above-mentioned embodiments are
denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof
will not be repeated.
The filter cleaning apparatus 3 according to the current embodiment
may further include the cover 270 which is disposed over a cavity
111 of the cleaning tank 110. The cover 270 may be provided with a
hole 271 along at least a portion of an edge of the cover, suitable
for injecting a cleaning solution.
The cleaning solution is injected into the cleaning tank 110
through the hole 271 formed in the edge of the cover 270, and thus
the cleaning solution may be prevented from being directly poured
in a roll-type filter 10 in large quantities. This is because the
roll-type filter 10 may be damaged when the cleaning solution is
directly poured in the roll-type filter 10 in large quantities.
The cover 270 may include an inclined portion 273 that is sloped
toward the hole 271 so that the cleaning solution poured from above
the cover 270 may flow to the hole 271.
In addition, the cover 270 may further include an opening and
closing portion 272 capable of selectively obstructing the hole
271. For example, the opening and closing portion 272 may be moved
in the circumferential direction in a sliding manner so as to
obstruct the hole 271.
Meanwhile, a holder portion 274 and a handle exposing portion 275
may be formed in the cover 270. The cover 270 may be easily gripped
by the holder portion 274, and the handle portion 160 may be
exposed through the handle exposing portion 275.
The exemplary embodiments regarding the filter cleaning apparatuses
1, 2, and 3 have been described so far and are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the
exemplary embodiments described therein should be considered in a
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should
typically be considered as available for other similar features or
aspects in other embodiments.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and
patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the
same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically
indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its
entirety herein.
The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and "at least one" and
similar referents in the context of describing the invention
(especially in the context of the following claims) are to be
construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless
otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The
use of the term "at least one" followed by a list of one or more
items (for example, "at least one of A and B") is to be construed
to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any
combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless
otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The
terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to
be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not
limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of
values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of
referring individually to each separate value falling within the
range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value
is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in
any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein,
including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the
invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the
foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to
employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for
the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the
claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover,
any combination of the above-described elements in all possible
variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *